News + Stories

From New York to Israel, DOROT’s vision of alleviating social isolation and loneliness for older adults has a global reach! DOROT Executive Director Mark Meridy, and Senior Program Officers, Ellen Amstutz, Judith Turner, and Ali Hodin-Baier recently met with Leonie Weinberg, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Consul General of Israel in New York, and Eran […]

DOROT’s Executive Director Mark Meridy joined Chance Seales on Newsy Tonight to discuss social isolation and loneliness during the holiday season and ways to give back and connect. 

DOROT’s Executive Director, Mark Meridy, and GENuine Connections volunteer, Adele Dressner, joined Spectrum News NY1’s “News All Day” to discuss the impact of the program for volunteers of all ages. Through GENuine Connections, teens and older adults meet weekly over Zoom in small groups to talk and participate in activities ranging from creative writing, chess, […]

This holiday season let’s come together to be UnLonely. We at DOROT know the vital importance of connection, and that the arts and creative expression are powerful tools in connecting. Project UnLonely offers a suite of resources on their website to engage and inspire connection during this time. They will also be holding a free virtual event: […]

DOROT Executive Director Mark Meridy was recognized as a Whole Health Hero by Empire BlueCross Shield, acknowledging his contributions to the health and well-being of older New Yorkers. Meridy, along with 24 other healthcare leaders, received this honor at a luncheon on November 10 celebrating the accomplishments of those who stepped up to the challenges […]

Millions of viewers all over the country witnessed firsthand the beauty of DOROT’s special brand of  intergenerational friendship, when Marilyn Warner and Nathaniel Tanenbaum shared their story on The Kelly Clarkson Show  on September 16, 2022.  Marilyn and Nathaniel met two years ago in DOROT’s Summer Teen Internship Program, one of many pairs of teens […]

Over the course of the summer, DOROT College Interns are contributing content to our website and social media to share their experiences.  Photo: (right) Penzias and Wilson stand below the Holmdel Horn Antenna, the site of their most notable discovery. (Left) A picture of David’s relative, Arno A. Penzias. Story by An-lin Sloan Here’s the story […]

On National Intern Day, we celebrate all of DOROT’s amazing college and teen interns! Through the Jewish Summer Teen Internships, high schoolers experience four weeks of intergenerational engagement, participating in and leading daily programming and spending time with DOROT staff and older adults in a wide variety of activities and events. Together they share stories, […]

DOROT’s Annual Benefit on June 15 was both a moving tribute to honoree and former Board President Donna Jakubovitz and a celebration of the return of in-person social connection. “It was so wonderful to be together again,” said Benefit Committee Chair and Board Member Marian Faytell. “This event was two years overdue, and well worth […]

DOROT’s Executive Director Mark Meridy, MPA shared an Op-Ed for politicsny.com about why it’s critical to keep older adults engaged and connected: “As the head of DOROT, an organization dedicated to combatting social isolation and loneliness among older adults, I witness firsthand what is possible when people of different ages and backgrounds come together and create […]